American West: 1861-76

Lesson 6: The Battle of Washita

The Attack at Washita Begins, November 27, 1868

Washita Map

As the sky lightened that cold dawn, Custer’s troops began to advance from their various locations beyond the perimeter of the sleeping Indian village. The order had previously been given prohibiting the firing of a single shot until the signal to attack was made. That signal would be the striking up of the regimental band with the rousing notes of “Garry Owen.”

Soon Custer, with his detachment including the band, caught a view here and there of tall white lodges among the trees where these Indians had settled in for the winter along the bank of the Washita River in Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma. Custer was just turning in his saddle to give the signal for attack when a single rifle shot rang out. Having been preempted, he continued with his signal and instantly the notes of "Garry Owen" echoed across the valley.

Attack on Black Kettle’s Village

It was at first believed that the errant shot that was fired had been an accidental discharge from on of the other attacking army units. Later, it was learned that Black Kettle, himself, had fired this first volley, thus ending his attitude of peace with the white man.

Bugles sounded the charge and Custer’s Seventh Cavalry thundered into the sleeping village of the Cheyenne Peace Chief, Black Kettle. Striking from all four sides, the soldiers quickly overran the camp.

Overcoming their first surprise, the Indians quickly seized their rifles, bows, and arrows. Some sprang behind trees, while others leaped into the frigid stream, using the bank as a rifle-pit.

Custer says that before the fight he gave orders for his men to avoid killing anyone other than those fighting. He does not mention whether he specified that women, children, and infants were not to be harmed. However, in a situation where people are fighting for their homes, lives, and families, women and children can often be just as deadly as the fighting man. This was a fact that Captain Frederick Benteen soon became a believer of.

Galloping forward, Captain Benteen was approached by an Indian boy astride a pony. The youngster was believed to be about fourteen years old and was armed with a revolver. Benteen, drawing nearer to him, called out that the boy’s life would be spared if he threw away his weapon, and made the peace sign. In answer, the boy aimed his revolver at the white man and fired. Having missed his target, the boy fired again. The bullet cut through the sleeve of Benteen’s coat.

A third time, the boy fired his gun while this soldier continued to make friendly overtures. The bullet hit Benteen’s horse. The Indian boy raised his weapon a fourth time and Benteen shot him dead.

In the meantime, Captain Hamilton, who had so desperately wanted to be in on this fight, was shot from his horse and instantly killed.

Though there were many tribes of Indians living on the Plains, there were other Native Americans elsewhere in the United States. The article noted below will take you to visit the Indians in South Louisiana in the 18th. century. Have a nice trip--but hurry back.

Early Cajuns Learned From Indians By Pbleggette http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/caju...

Sources for this section are:

Brady, Cyrus Townshend. The Sioux Indian Wars, From the Powder River to the Little Big Horn, Indian Head Books, New York, 1992.

Brown, Dee, forward by. The Wild West. Warner Books, A Time Warner Company, 1993.

Custer, George Armstrong. My Life on the Plains. Leisure Books, New York, NY.

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